Utah’s employment in March 2016 grew by an estimated 3.3 percent, adding 44,400 jobs to the economy as compared to March 2015. Utah’s current employment level registers 1,405,400.

March’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth from February to 3.5 percent. Approximately 51,400 Utahns were unemployed in the month and actively seeking work. The March national unemployment also rose one-tenth from last month to 5.0 percent.

“Momentum in Utah’s labor markets continues to propel our state’s economy,” reported Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist at the Department of Workforce Services. “The slight uptick in the number of Utahns actively seeking work is likely due to favorable economic conditions drawing people into the labor market who were not there before.”

Eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in March as compared to last year, while the Natural Resources and Mining industry shed 1,400 positions and Other Services shed 1,000 positions.